A guitar retreat in Argyle, Scotland - 8th to 13th August

Let’s pack for Argyle, Scotland shall we, shall we? 

Who doesn’t love a rugged coastline or a mystical loch? Who doesn’t live for a dramatic mountain or the wonder that 23 inhabited islands can inspire? Bad, bad, bad people, that’s who. 

We are overjoyed to be taking The Guitar Social to Scotland this year, and even more specifically, to Argyle, where everything you that you imagine Scotland to be… is. 

What you get 

• Course materials, song sheets and historical information in PDF format to accompany all workshops and your time in the Argyle 
• A concierge service from The Guitar Social as well as a daily itinerary
• Fifteen hours of workshops specific to Scotland and the music it has generated 
• A space in the best accommodation we can find
• Breakfast daily 
• Three course Burns Supper

How many people will be there

We limit retreats to about 15. This is a far cry from a guitar retreat in a conference room in a hotel on the motorway. This is small scale, boutique, bespoke.

What we will be doing

The daily plan detailed below change based on the local knowledge we pick up on the ground and your suggestions. Sometimes, the day takes on its own mood, and we follow the breeze wherever it sends us.

Day one:  8th of August 

2.00 pm Check in, bag drop in your room, something to drink, time to meet your new jam buddies

4:00 pm Workshop #1 Celtic Foundations, 1800-1850. A musical odyssey with examples discussed, listened to and then learnt

6:00 pm Dinner 

8:00 pm Workshop #2 The lyrics, poetry and life of Robert Burns 

9:00 pm Evenings Event: A chance to perform live, open mic style, or play some of the songs from the days workshop in loose jams.

Day two: 9th of August 

9:00 am Breakfast 

10:00 am Workshop #3 Celtic Foundations 1850-1900.  A musical odyssey with examples discussed, listened to and then learnt 

12:00 pm  A gorgeous moderate 5 mile round walk ending in a pub where we might find a guitar and a sudden urge to perform. Expect to pass mountains so beautiful your knees will knock and lochs so deep and enchanted your eyes will explode

5:00 pm Workshop #4 technical studies. Content to be confirmed after consulting with attendees prior to trip start date 

6:00 pm Workshop #5 Contemporary Scottish pop songs, played for fun

7:00 pm Dinner 

9:00 pm Evenings Event: A chance to perform live, open mic style, or play some of the songs from the days workshop in loose jams.

Day three - 10th of August 

9:00 am  Breakfast 

10:00 am  Workshop #6 Celtic Foundations 1850-1900.  A musical odyssey with examples discussed, listened to and then learnt. 

1:00 pm Saturday trip to the coast where there’s shops, cafes, pubs, life, people. Argyl is famous for its coast line-you may wish to bring your lyric book. 

5:00 pm Workshop #7 technical studies. Content to be confirmed after consulting with attendees prior to trip start date

6:00 pm Workshop #8 technical studies. Content to be confirmed after consulting with attendees prior to trip start date

8:00 pm Dinner 

9:00 pm Evenings Event: A chance to perform live, open mic style, or play some of the songs from the days workshop in loose jams.

Day four - 11th of August 

9:00 am Breakfast 

10:00 am Workshop #9 Celtic Foundations 1900-1950.  A musical odyssey with examples discussed, listened to and then learnt. 

11:00 am Workshop #10 technical studies. Content to be confirmed after consulting with attendees prior to trip start date

12:00 Free day - We’re staying in a beautiful house in a stunning part of Scotland. Today is your chance to go and explore. Or, you may wish to find somewhere to practice, work on some songs with other people or finish that book you’ve been stealing moments with. 

Your guitar tutor will be on hand to work with you privately on any areas you’re keenly interested in should you want some support with your heroic, musical endeavours. 

5:00 pm Workshop #11 technical studies. Content to be confirmed after consulting with attendees prior to trip start date

6:00 pm Workshop #12 High energy Scottish songs jammed with highland abandon

7:00 pm Dinner 

9:00 pm Evenings Event EXTENDED By this point, your repertoire will have grown, you’ll be working with other people on the trip, and you’ll be ready to play so tonight is an extended session with an after party for those that feel like staying up a little later 

Day 5 - 12th of August 

9:00 am  Breakfast 

10:00 am  Workshop #13 Celtic Foundations 1950- present day.  A musical odyssey with examples discussed, listened to and then learnt

11:00 am Workshop #14  Content to be confirmed after consulting with attendees prior to trip start date

12:00 pm  A lush 7 mile round walk. Of course, there will be a pit stop in a pub. We’ll be heading deep into the heart of our host location and in deeper conversation as musical allies, bonded through a weeks worth of jams and songs

Bring your camera/sketch book because this walk is incredible

6:00 pm - Workshop #15 Final Jam. The greatest hits. 

7.30 pm - Burns Supper: A traditional ceremonial event celebrating the life of the poet Robert Burns.  We’ll be doing the toasts, piping*  in the Haggis, addressing the Haggis, enjoying a three course meal and finishing with some traditional Scottish dancing

Day 6 - 13th of August 

9:00 am Breakfast cooked for you by your guitar tutor.

We check out today. Time left still for some shared songs before packing down, swapping phone numbers, doing the see you laters and heading from whence we came.

*In the absence of bag pipes, we will probably use a guitar.

Terms and Conditions

Please read this document before booking

We can't wait for this Guitar Social retreat. See you by the Loch.